.  HUMBLE  A  TTEMPT 

TO  ILLUSTRATE 

THE  CHARACTER  AND  OBLIGATIONS 

OF  A 

MINISTER  OF  THE  GOSPEL  OF  CHRIST 


IN  A 


PBEACHED  BEFORE  THE  PBESBTTERT  OP  FATETTEVILXE,  ON  TRIDAT  THE  SOtB 
DAT  OF  JULY,  1819.  IN  TI^E  PRESBTTERIAN  CHURCH  OP 
FATETTEVILLE  NORTH-CAROLIITA, 

AT  THE  ORDINATION  OE 

THE  REV'D.  WILLIAM  D.  SNODGRASS  : 

TOGETHER  WITH 

THE  CHARGES 

DELIVERED  ON  THAT  SOLEMN  OCCASION  : 


BY  THE  REV'D.  COLIN  M  IVER. 


PUBLISHED  BY  REQUEST. 


paVettevtxt.e  : 
J  .  •     •  printed  by  Carney  ^  DismuJces^ 

'1820^ 


PREPxiCE, 


TO  illustrate  the  importance  of  the  subject  treated  of  \i. 
the  following  sheets,  no  prefatory  remarks  are  necessary. 
One  part  of  the  Sermon  here  presented  to  the  public,  has  this 
for  its  special  object.  If  the  reader  should  be  disposed  to  in- 
quire, why  a  subject,  on  which  so  many  excellent  treatises,  m 
the  form  of  Sermons  and  charges  have  already  been  published, 
should  again  be  obtruded,  in  a  similar  form,  on  the  public  at- 
tention, the  answer  is,  that  the  following  Sermon  and  Charges, 
J  ike  all  similar  Sermons  and  Charges  which  have  preceded  them, 
were  called  forth,  by  an  important  occasion  5  namely,  the  ordi- 
nation of  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel  ;  and  that  the  hope  of  their 
being  found  useful  to  those  most  immediately  interested  in  this 
transaction,  has  induced  the  author  to  consent  to  their  publica- 
tion. For  the  information  of  those  who  are  not  acquainted  with 
the  manner  in  which  Ordinations  are  generally  conducted  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  the  following  extract  from  the  Min- 
utes of  the  Presbytery  of  Fayetteville,  is  submitted  to  the  read- 
er. 

"  Fayetteville y  Friday  30th  July,  1819. 

"  Agreeably  to  a  resolution  passed  on  yesterday,  Presbytery 
"  proceeded  to  ordain  and  instal  The  Rev'd.  WILLIAM  D. 
"  SNODGRASS,  in  the  following  manner.  A  sermon,  adapt- 
"  ed  to  the  occasion,  was  preached  by  The  RevM  Colin  M'lver, 
"  in  which  a  view  was  given  to  the  auditory,  of  the  character 
'•^  and  obligations  of  a  Minister  of  Christ.  Sermon  being  ended, 
"  the  proceedings  of  Presbytery  preparatory  to  this  trans- 
"  action,  were  briefly  recited  from  the  pulpit  in  the  audience 

of  the  people  :  the  nature  and  importance  of  the  Ordinance 
"  was  then  pointed  out; — that  the  audience  might  be  impress- 
"  ed  with  a  proper  sense  of  the  solemnity  of  the  transaction. 
"  Mr.  Snodgrass  having  then  signified  his  unqualified  assent  to 
"  those  engagements  required  in  our  book  of  discipline,  pre- 
^'  paratory  to  Ordination  ;  and  his  people  having  also  come  un- 
"  der  corresponding  obligations ;  he  knelt  down,  in  a  conveni- 
"  ent  place  ;  and  was  by  prayer,  and  the  laying  on  of  the  hands 
^*  of  the  Presbytery,  according  to  Apostolic  example,  solemnly 
"  ordained  to  the  Holy  Office  of  the  Gospel  Ministry.  Prayer 


4 


beinff  ended,  The  Rev'd.  William  D.  Snodgrass  arose  from 
Ills  knees;  and  the  presiding  Bishop,  first,  and  afterwards  all 
ti.e  members  of  Presbytery  in  their  order,  took  him  by  the 
right  hand,  saying  dear  brothkr, — with  cordial  and  un- 

FKIGNED  pleasure,  WF  GIVE  YOU  THE  RIGHT  HAND  OP  FEL- 
LOWSHIP.  TO  TAKE  PART  OF  THIS  MINISTRY  WITH  US.     A  SO- 

iemn  charge,  m  the  name  of  God,  was  then  given,  by  the 
presiding  bisliop,  to  the  newly  ordained  Bishop  and  to  his 
people,  to  persevere  in  the  discharge  of  their  mutual  duties; 
and  afterwards,  by  prayer,  they  were  both  recommended  to 
to  the  grace  of  God,  and  his  Holy-keeping;  and  finally,  after 
singing  a  Psalm,  the  pe  "ple  were  dismissed  with  the  usual  be- 
nediction  ;— after  whir  h,  the  Ruling  Elders  of  the  Cliurch, 
and  the  heads  of  families  belonging  to  the  congregation, 
^'  c  mje  forward  to  their  Pastor,  and  gave  him  their  right  hand, 
in  token  of  cordial  reception  and  affectionate  regard." 

The  author  has  nothing  further  to  add,  but,  that  he  sends 
the  following  sheets  into  the  world,  accompanied  by  his  fervent 
prayer,  to  the  author  of  all  pooclness,  that  his  Divine  blessing 
inav  accompaii)  this  feeble  effort  of  one  who  accounts  himseh* 
less  than  the  least  of  all  saints. 


A  SERMON, 


2yB  TiMOTnr,  iv.  5  f^JIake  full  proof  of  thy  J^flinisinj,*' 

These  words  arc  a  part  of  a  solemn  charge,  which 
Paul,  the  great  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles,  addressed  to  Ti- 
mothy, his  heloved  son  in  the  Ministry  of  Christ's  Gos- 
pel. Both  the  Epistles  which  the  ins])ired  Apostle  wrote  to 
this  his  yoim.i^  companion  a!id  assistant  in  the  Ministerial 
Office,  and  that  w  hich  he  wrote  to  Titus  who  sustained 
the  same  character,  are  filled  with  exhortations  which  af- 
ford a  striking  view  of  the  inrportance  of  the  Gospel  Mi- 
nisti'y  ;  and  of  his  own  earnest,  anxious,  and  longing 
desire,  tliat  all  the  duties  attached  to  this  sacred  office, 
should,  hy  tliose  to  whom  it  was  especially  entrusted,  he 
^vell  understood  and  faithfully  fulfilled.  But  the  charge, 
from  which  the  exhortation  in  our  text  is  taken,  was  gi- 
ven to  Timothy  under  circumstances  peculiarly  solemn, 
and  well  calculated  to  engage  him,  to  renewed  zeal  and 
increased  fidelity.  The  Holy  Apostle,  at  the  time  in 
^vhich  he  gave  this  charge,  had,hy  a  prophetic  Spirit,  a 
full  prospect  before  him,  alike,  of  those  severe  trials  to 
'Nvhich  Timothy  was  shortly  to  be  exposed,  and  of  that 
violent  death  to  which  he  was  himself  soon  to  be  sub- 
jected. For  his  own  persona!  sufierings,  of  which  he  had 
such  near  views  ;  and  for  his  departure  from  this  world, 
which  was  immediately  to  folloNV,  he  felt  himself  fully 
prepared  ;  ^nd  he  even  rejoiced  in  the  prospect  of  his 
approaching  dissolution  :  yet,  such  was  his  concern  for 
thr  interest  of  his  Redeemer's  Kingdom  on  earth, — such 
his  regard  for  Timothy,  to  whom  much  of  this  interest 
was  yet  for  time  To  be  entrusted, — and  such  his  godly 
jealousy  over  him,  lest  persecution  or  affliction  should 
betray  him  into  forgetfulness  of  his  duty  to  the  Lord  Je- 
sus, that  h:*  solemnly  charged  him,  as  in  the  immediate 
presence  of  tlie  rigliteous  Judge  of  the  whole  earth,  to  per- 
severe unto  the  end,  in  the  faithful  exercise  of  all  his  Mi- 
nisterial duties,    «  I  charge  thee,  ihereforey^  said  the  in- 


spiicd  Apostle,     before  God  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,, 
who  shall  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead  at  his  appearing 
and  his  kingdom  ;  preach  the  word  ;  he  instant  in  sea- 
"  so?i,  Old  of  season  ;  reprove,  rebuke,  exhort,  with  all 
long-suffering  and  doctrine.    For  the  t'me  will  come, 
when  theij  will  not  endure  sormd  doctrine  ;  but  after  their 
own  lusts  shall  they  heap  to  themselves  teachers,  hav- 
ing  itching  ears  ;  and  they  shall  turn  away  their  ears 
'"'from  the  truth,  and  shall  be  turned  unto  fables.  But 
watch  thou  in  aU  things,  endure  afflictions,  do  the  work 
«  of  an  evangelist,  make  full  proof  of  thy  ministry.^'  Hav- 
ing- in  this  solemn  manner,  pressed  these  weiejbty  ex- 
Jivortations  on  his  yomi.oj  son  in  the  ministry,  the  Apostle 
i'urther  urges  iiim  to  fidelity,  by  the  affec  tinja:  considera- 
tion, that  he  was  no  longer  to  enjoy  the  benefit  of  his  in- 
structions ;  and  that  it  now  became  him,  by  daily  and 
incrcasi}]g  engagedness  in  the  great  work  to  which  he 
had  devoted  himself,  to  aspire  after  that  glorious  reward, 
which  his  illustrious  leader  now  had  in  immediate  and 
joyful  anticipation.  "For  I  am  now,^^  continued  this  holy 
jnan  of  Gud,  **  ready  to  be  offered  ;  and  the  time  of  my  de- 
•*  parture  is  at  hand,  I  havef ought  a  good  fight,  I  have  fin- 
«  ishcdmy  course,  I  have  kept  the  faith:  henceforth,  there 
«  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness,  which  the 
Lord^  the  righteous  judge,  shall  give  me  at  that  day  : 
"  and  not  to  me  only,  but  unto  all  them  also  that  love  his 
appearingj^  •  Under  these  solemn,  interesting,  and  af- 
fecting circumstances,  the  Apostle  Paul  addressed  to  Ti- 
mothy the  solemn  charge  which  you  have  heard  ;  and 
wherein  he  exhorts  him, — to  "preach  the  word    — to 
«  be  instant  in  season,  out  of  season    — to  "  reprove,  re- 
•<  buke,'^  and  "  exhort,  ivith  all  long-suff'ering  and  doc- 
"  trine  — to  watch  in  all  things    — to    endure  afflic- 
"  tions*^ — to  "  do  the  work  of  an  Evangelist    — and  to 
"  make  full  proof  of    his  "ministry,^'    Of  the  last  of 
these  exhortations,  to- wit,  "  make  full  proof  of  thy  min- 
"  istry,^*  I  have  made  choice,  as  the  subject  af  our  pre- 
sent meditations  ;  as  it  evidently  includes  every  thing 
im  )lied  in  all  the  other  exhortations  which  immediately 
precede  it.**    *»  Make  full  proof  of  thy  mivistry.^' 

In  the  further  illustration  of  these  words,  1  shall  en- 


T 

•deavour,  in  Immbic  reliance  on  Divine  Grace,  First, 
To  state,  by  what  means,  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel  should 
make  full  proof  of  his  ministry  ;  and.  Secondly,  To 
shew  the  importance  of  maintaining  such  a  walk  and  con- 
versation, as  is  here  required  of  the  Ministers  of  Christ- 
In  discoursing  on  these  particulars,  I  am  sensible,  that, 
in  a  different  situation,  it  would  be  much  more  becoming 
in  me,  and  indeed  I  would  much  rather  chusc,  to  hear  and 
learn  my  duty  from  my  Reverend  Fathers  and  Brethren 
who  are  here  present,  than  to  pretend  to  teach  them  theirs  : 
it  is  only  to  perform  the  part  which  arises  from  the  pro  - 
vince now  assigned  me,  that  I  w^ould,  with  all  humility, 
lay  before  them,  that  idea  of  the  character  and  obligation:; 
of  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  which  I  wish,  how- 
ever defective  or  faulty,  to  inculcate  on  myself. 

First,  then,  1  proposed  to  state,  by  what  means,  a 
Minister  of  the  Gospel,  should  "make  full  proof  of  his^ 

ministry," 

The  first  thing  I  would  mention,  as  essential  to  such 
proof,  is,  that  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel,  should  exhibit^ 
in  the  sight  of  men,  a  condnct  directed  by  the  laws  of 
that  religion  which  he  preaches  to  the  world.  That, 
without  maintaining  such  a  conduct,  the  true  character  of 
a  Gospel  Minister  cannot  be  exemplified,  the  least  reflec- 
tion must  convince  you.  This  is  a  truth  which  is  fully 
supported,  not  only  by  what  our  daily  observation  may 
teach  us,  but  also,  by  the  express  language  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  Human  nature  is  so  corru]>ted  and  drprav- 
ed,  that  even  when  the  excellency  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ 
is  amiably  illustrated  in  the  pious  and  holy  w  alk  of  those 
who  preach  it,  it  is,  alas !  in  too  many  instances,  slight- 
ed and  disregarded  ; — but,  when  he  who  is  called  to  be 
a  Teacher  of  Sacred  Truth,  misleads,  by  his  example, 
those  to  whom  he  should  be  a  safe  guide ;  when  a  minis- 
ter sustains  two  opposite  characters,  whilst  engaged  in 
performing  the  services  of  the  sanctuary,  and  during  his 
ordinary  intercourse  with  the  world  ; — when,  \u  his  pub- 
lic preaching,  he  urges  obedience  to  t'l'^  precepts  of  Christ; 
and  yet,  by  his  daily  conduct,  does  himself  w  ith-hold  t]]at 
obedience  ; — in  place  of  diminishing  the  existing  evil,  he 
renders  it  more  extensive ;  and,  as  far  as  his  infiuencc  ex- 


8 


tends,  lie  defeats  the  very  object  of  the  Gospel  Ministry ; 
namely,  the  reformation,  and  salvation  of  those,  lo  whom 
the  Gospel  is  preached.    Should  he  preach  the  truths  of 
the  Gospel,  ever  so  pointedly  and  faithfully  ; — should  he 
urge  them,  with  ever  so  much  zeal  and  ardour,  and  by 
the  most  sacred  and  solemn  considerations ; — yeU  if,  in 
liis  own  life,  he  exhibit  a  conduct,  opposite  to  that,  which, 
in  his  public  instructions,  he  recommends  to  others,  he 
furnislics  all  who  perceive  this,  with  abundant  reason  to 
conclude,  that  he  is  not,  himself,  a  sincere  believer  in 
those  doctrines  which  he  urines  others  to  embrace.  Hence, 
the  Apostle  Paul  exhorts  Timothy,  to  "  be  an  example 
of  the  believers,  in  ^vord,  inconversatioiii  in  charity,  in 
•«  spirit,  in  faith,  in  purity      and,  in  his  Epistle  to  the 
Romans,  he  clearly  sliews,  that,  when  public  teachers  are 
themselves  guilty  of  those  offences  for  which  they  reprove 
others,  they  defeat  the  very  end  of  their  office.  <«  TAere- 
•«/ore,"  said  he,  "  thou  art  inexcusable,    O  man,  who- 
"  soever  thou  art  thatjudgest :  for,  wherein  thoujudgest 
^«  another,  thou  condemnest  thyself ,  for  thou  that  judgestf 
doest  the  same  things, — Thou,  therefore,  ivhich  teachest 
another,  teachest  thou  not  thyself  ?  Thou  that  preachest 
a  man  should  not  steal,  dost  thou  steal  ?  Thou  that  say- 
"  est  a  man  should  not  commit  adultery,  dost  thou  commit 
•«  adultery  ?    Thou  that  abhorest  idols,  dost  thou  commit 
sacrilege?  Thou  that  makest  thy  boast  of  the  law,  thro* 
breaking  the  law,  dishonourest  thou  God  ?    For  the 
name  of  God  is  llasphemed  among  the  Gentiles  through 
^*  you  as  it  is  written,'^    Thus,  you  see,  Bretln*en, 
how  essential  is  tlie  good  and  holy  example  of  a  Gospel 
jSlinister,  to  the  success  of  his  labours. 

But  in  order  that  a  Minister  of  Christ  may  "  make 
f  ill  proof  of^^  his  "  ministry,*^  it  is  not  sufficient,  that 
he  should  merely  exhibit,  in  the  sight  of  men,  a  conduct 
directed  by  the  laws  of  that  religion  which  he  preaches 
to  the  world  :  it  is,  moreover,  necessary,  that  he  should 
regulate  that  conduct  in  such  a  manner  as  will  clearly 
shew,  that  the  secret  springs  and  motives  which  govern 
him,  arc  directed  by  the  Gospel  ;  and  that  the  outward 
regularity  and  virtue  of  his  life,  naturally  express  the 
sentiments  and  temper  of  his  heart.    There  are  tw^o  dif- 


9 


ferent  characters  which  every  man  sustains  ;  to-w  it,^ 
the  character  which  he  has  with  men,  or  the  reputation 
which  is  given  him  by  the  world ;  and  the  character 
which  he  has  with  God,  or  the  place  which  he  hohls  in 
his  esteem.    The  first  of  these,  arises  from  his  visible 
deportment  in  society  ; — the  second,  not  from  that  alone,» 
hut  from  that,  in  its  connection  with  the  principles  and 
dispositions  of  his  heart.    This  distinction  runs  through 
the  whole  of  the  sacred  scriptures.    It  is  expressly  made, 
hy  the  author  of  our  text,  in  his  Epistle  to  the  Romans. 
*'  He  is  not  a  Jew  who  is  one  outwardly  ; — but  he  is  a  Jew^ 
who  is  one  inwardly^  whose  praise  is  not  of  men,  but  of 
«<  Gorf."    The  Gospel  of  Christ  is  evidently  designed  to 
purify  the  dispositions  of  the  heart  of  man,  as  well  as  to 
direct  the  measures  of  his  life.  In  order,  then,  to  "ma/cc 
J'ull  proof  of'^  his  «  ministry,^*  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel 
must  feel  the  power  of  that  internal  piety  which  the  Gos- 
pel was  intended  and  is  fitted  to  produce  in  the  hoart  of 
every  man  by  whom  it  is  believed  ;  and,  from  thence,  he 
must  exhibit  to  the  world,  the  example  of  a  virtuous  and 
holy  life.    This  internal  piety  must  spread  its  influence 
through  the  whole  of  his  deportment  ;  but  it  must,  in  a 
more  especial  manner,  enter  into  the  sacred  and  peculiar 
fuctions  of  his  Ministry,    In  these,  he  ought  to  be  awak- 
ened to  an  affectionate  and  feeling  sense  of  sacred  things, 
and  to  be  conscious  of  that  influence  in  himself,  which  it 
is  the  purpose  of  his  several  ministrations  to  promote  in 
the  minds  of  men.    When,  for  instance,  he  conducts  the 
worship  of  a  Christian  Assembly,  and  expresses,  in  their 
name,  that  homage  of  the  heart  with  which  they  ought  to 
worship  God,  he  ought,  then,  to  feel  the  power  of  that 
internal  homage  in  himself,  and  speak  only  what  pro- 
ceeds from  the  genuine  impressions  of  his  own  heart. 
When,  preaching  to  a  Christian  Assembly,  he  would 
lead  his  hearers  to  a  suitable  idea  and  impression  of  eter- 
nal things,  he  should,  himself,  then,  be  filled  with  the 
Heavenly  impression  ;  and  draw  from  thence,  the  des- 
criptions and  enforcements  he  sets  before  them.    In  a 
word,  in  every  sacred  ministration  in  which  he  is  em- 
ployed, he  must  study  to  become,  in  the  real  sentiments 
and  dispositions  of  his  heart,  and  in  the  eye  of  God^  whQ 

2* 


10 


sees  tlic  lieart,  what  lie  outwardly  appears  to  be,  what  he  J 
wishes  to  be  reputed  in  the  public  eye,  and  what  it  is  the 
professed  intention  of  his  sacred  ministrations  to  pro- 
mote amonj^  mankind.  To  be  thus  directed  and  dispos- 
ed, in  the  duties  of  the  ministry,  is,  I  apprehend,  the 
proper  and  full  signification  of  the  Apostle's  injunction 
in  the  words  of  our  text :     make  full  proof  of  thy  miti' 

Suffer  me  now  to  call  your  attention,  as  was  proposed, 
in  the  Second  place,  to  the  importance  of  maintaining 
such  a  walk  and  conversation,  as  is  here  required  of  the 
Ministers  of  Christ. 

And  the  first  light  in  which  I  would  consider  it  is,  in 
point  of  duty  and  sincerity.  Besides  the  general  obliga- 
tions to  religion  and  morality,  incumbent  upon  every 
man,  there  are  special  obligations  which  arise  from  men^s 
particular  profession  in  society.  When  they  act  suita- 
bly to  these,  their  character  is  generally  marked  with 
honour  and  esteem  ;  but  when  they  depart  from  or  vio- 
late them,  their  character  is  generally  mai^ked  with  dis- 
honour and  contempt.  In  like  manner,  in  the  particu- 
lar profession  of  a  Gospel  Minister,  that  internal  piety 
which  the  Gospel  was  intended  to  promote,  is  essential 
to  the  propriety  and  virtue  of  his  character.  By  the  na- 
ture of  his  office,  he  must  assume  the  outward  form  of 
piety :  nay,  he  must  assume  it  often,  in  the  immediate 
presence  of  his  maker  ;  and,  w  ith  an  air  of  importance 
and  solemnity,  express  before  him,  the  effusions  of  a  heart 
devoted  to  his  service.  If,  nevertheless,  there  is  nothing 
corresponding  with  this  outward  form  in  the  real  state 
and  temper  of  his  soul,  a  greater  impropriety  in  manners 
cannot  be  conceived  of :  it  is,  indeed,  more  than  impro- 
priety : — it  is  falshood  and  insinserity  : — for  what  can  be 
a  greater,  or  more  odious  insincerity,  than,  with  a  seri- 
ous and  solemn  air,  to  counterfeit  a  character,  of  which 
we  are  not  really  possessed  ;  and  that,  not  only  in  the 
sight  of  men,  but,  in  the  immediate  eye  of  God  ; — nay, 
under  the  disguise  of  an  immediate  address  to  his  adora- 
ble majesty  ? — This  counterfeited  character,  withal,  must 
be  maintained  through  the  daily  business  of  life ;  whence, 
it  will  be  very  difficult  for  such  a  man  to  preserve  a  suit- 


11 


able  regard  to  candour  and  sincerity,  in  any  instance  of 
his  conduct.    The  Clcri^y  Iiave  been  lon,!^'  reproached,  as 
prone  to  betray  a  peculiar  strain  of  slyness  and  hypocri- 
sy," in  their  conduct  with  the  world.    I  hope  this  censure 
has  been  pronounced  on  them,  much  oftener,  and  with 
much  more  severity,  than  they  have  dessrved.    But  if, 
at  any  time,  the  censure  has  been  just,  what  has  been  ob- 
served may  lead  us  to  a  natural  explication  ot  this  pecu- 
liarity.   A  studied  and  deliberate  hypocrisiy,  in  the  sa- 
cred functions  of  the  Ministry,  i.  e.  in  tlie  most  serious 
and  solemn  parts  of  human  life,  will,  insensihly,  root  out 
every  principle  of  candour  from  tlie  heart ;  and,  by  a  na- 
tural transition,  mix  itself  in  every  other  circumstance 
of  life,    ft  oui^ht,  here,  however,  to  be  remarked,  that 
this  affords  no  just  reflection  against  the  Ministerial  of- 
fice ;  but  only  against  the  man  by  whom  it  is  abused  : 
nay,  he  who,  in  the  way  which  1  have  endeavoured  to 
point  out  to  you,  is  qualified  for  his  office,  will,  from  that 
unseen  and  accurate  sincerity  which  he  studies  to  ob- 
serve in  the  functions  of  his  Ministry,  natively  improve 
his  sense  of  candour  and  sincerity,  in  every  other  action 
of  his  life.    While,  therefore,  the  dishonest  clergyman, 
is,  indeed,  the  likeliest  of  all  other  men,  to  become  tho- 
roughly acquainted  with  the  arts  of  imposture  and  dis- 
guise ;  yet,  he  who  is  sincere  in  his  profession,  is  as  like- 
ly to  become  a  man  of  the  most  delicate  integrity,  in  e- 
very  part  of  life.    From  these  few  remarks,  it  may  ap- 
pear, how  very  important,  in  point  of  duty  and  sincerity ^ 
it  is,  that  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel  should    make  full 
proof  of  his  ministry,-'    If  he  do  not,  he  does  not  only  act 
an  inconsistent  and  improper  part ;  but  is  truly*  in  the 
sight  of  God,  an  insincere  and  worthless  hypocrite ;  and, 
could  he  candidly  reflect  upon  his  own  conduct,  he  would 
see  himself  in  the  same  contemptible  and  odious  light. 

But,  the  importance  of  a  Minister's  maintaining  such 
a  holy  and  exemplary  life,  may  be  further  seen,  if  we 
consider  it,  in  the  view  of  its  utility  and  advantage  to  the 
world.  In  tfiis  way  alone,  can  he  set  before  the  world  a 
suitable  example.  Here,  it  will,  at  once  occur  to  you, 
that  the  good  example  of  a  Minister  is  highly  requisite^ 
to  add  authority  and  weight  to  his  instructions  5  and. 


12 


tha*-  an  opposite  example  will  not  only  weaken  and  des- 
troy  this  authority  ;  but,  in  the  thou.i^hts  of  many,  will 
furnish  an  apolo,j^y  for,  and  give  a  kind  of  opposite  au- 
thority to  wickedness.    The  undistinj^uishing,  which  is 
by  far  the  j^reatest  part  of  mankind,  will  be  hereby  tempt- 
ed to  believe,  that  religion  is  nothing,  at  the  bottom,  but 
a  fabulous  imposture  ;  or,  at  least,  an  agreeable  and  spe- 
cious theory,  fit  for  the  teachers  uf  rJigion  to  display  ; 
but  unfit  for  the  business  and  practice  of  the  world.  But, 
besides  this,  the  good  example  of  a  minister  which  is  fit- 
ted to  give  weight  to  his  instructions,  must  immediately 
proceed  from  the  piety  and  goodness  of  his  heart  ;  and 
be  the  natural  expression  of  what  he  feels,  oris  conscious 
of,  within  himself.    Like  the  good  man  whom  our  Sa- 
viour describes,  he  must     bring  forth  his  good  thingSf 
from  the  good  treasure  of  his  heart.**   From  prudence,  or 
a  sense  of  decency,  a  Minister  may  so  adjust  the  mea- 
sures of  his  conduct,  and  guard  all  appearances  before 
the  world,  as  to  be  exempted  from  reproach  j  and  thus, 
he  may  avoid  the  danger  of  corrupting:  others  by  the 
force  of  his  example.  This,  however,  is  far  short  of  what 
is  requisite,  not  only  in  point  of  candour  and  sincerity,  but, 
in  point     usefulness^  and,  in  order  to  promote  the  enda 
of  his  profession.    There  is  a  peculiar  degree  of  abstrac- 
tion from  the  vanities  and  vices  of  the  world,  and  a  pe- 
culiar pitch  of  eminence  in  the  virtues  of  the  christian 
life,  which  is  expected  by  the  world  from,  and  is  indeed 
implied  in  the  profession  of  a  Gospel  Minister.  That 
habitual  attention  which  it  calls  upon  him  to  bestow  on 
Spiritual  and  Heavenly  things,  ought,  natively,  to  raise 
him  to  this  peculiar  excellence ;  and  a  Minister  of  Christ, 
to  do  justice  to  society,  should  labour  to  acquire,  not  on- 
ly a  superior  knowledge  of  religious  truth,  but  also  a  su- 
perior experience  of  its  purifying  power  upon  the  heart  ; 
and  from  thence  assist  the  rest  of  mankind,  to  surmount 
those  opposite  impressions  from  the  world,  to  which  they 
are  laid  open  from  their  different  situation.    In  no  other 
way,  however,  can  such  a  distinguished  excellence  and 
virtue  be  expressed  in  a  Minister's  example,  than  by  his 
being  qualified  for  the  duti  es  of  his  function  in  the  man- 
ner which  has  just  been  deiscribed.  Prudence  or  atteu- 


13 


tidn  to  tlie  opinion  of  the  world,  may  lead  a  man  to  imi- 
tate this  character  ;  but  the  copy  will  be  easily  distin- 
guished from  the  true  original,  by  every  deserning  eye. 
Those  artificial  and  affected  principles,  will  cither  leave 
the  man  by  whom  they  are  assumed  in  a  state  of  spirit- 
less indifference  ;  or,  they  will  betray  him  into  an  unna- 
tural ostentation  and  excess.  There  is  always  something 
natural  and  open  in  the  conduct  of  an  honest  man  ;  and 
a  freedom  and  simplicity  in  his  manners,  which  cannot  be 
expressed,  but  when  it  comes  immediately  and  freely 
from  the  heart.  This,  now,  is  the  example  which  a  Min- 
ister is  called  to  set  before  the  world ;  a*id  by  which  he 
is  to  season  and  support  the  instructions  which  he  gives : 
and  this,  indeed,  will  give  him  a  peculiar  authority.  Re- 
ligion, when  exhibited  in  real  life,  without  affectation 
and  formality,  especially  on  trying  and  difficult  occa- 
sions, will  give  the  world  an  idea  and  conviction  of  its 
excellence,  which  no  description  can  attain  ;  and,  with- 
out which,  the  most  accurate  description  will  appear  no 
more  than  a  display  of  ingenuity  and  art ;  and  the  min- 
ister himself,  a  performer  on  the  public  stage,  for  his 
own  reputation  or  advantage. 

To  this  we  may  add,  that  a  good  example,  in  the  con- 
duct of  a  Minister,  is  likely  to  be  accompanied  with  some 
particular  advantages.  From  observation  of  the  world, 
^ve  shall  find,  that,  in  all  the  different  societies,  in  which 
men  are  closely  linked  together,  there  is  usually  some 
leading  influence,  which  forms  the  taste  of  the  society, 
and  gives  it  its  peculiar  character.  This  influence  is  usu- 
ally acquired,  by  means  of  some  distinguishing  station 
and  ability.  The  station  of  a  Minister,  and  those  offi- 
ces of  life,  in  which,  by  his  profession,  he  is  called  to  be 
employed,  naturally  tend  to  give  him  such  an  influence  in 
that  religious  society,  with  which  the  Providence  of  God 
hath  immediately  connected  him.  As  our  blessed  Lord  ex- 
presses it,  he  is  "  as  a  city  set  upon  a  hilW^  which  "cftTi-  V 
not  he  hid.^'  He  acts  his  part  under  the  inspection  of  the 
public  eye ;  therefore,  his  example  is  likely  to  have  the 
more  extensive  influence  :  and,  corrupted  as  the  world 
is,  there  is  still  something  respectable  in  the  station  of  a 
Minister.  If  it  is  filled  by  him  in  a  worthy  manner,  and. 


14 


with  proper  dignity  and  wisdom,  it  will  hardly  fail,  to 
command',  at  least  a  secret  veneration  and  respect;  and, 
to  give  him  a  peculiar  direction  of  the  sentiments  and 
manners  of  the  people  committed  to  his  charge. 

Further,  hy  maintaining  such  a  walk  and  conversa- 
tion as  our  text  requires,  a  minister  will  exert  himself, 
and  employ  the  talents  God  has  given  him,  to  the  hest 
advantage  in  his  power,  for  answering  the  ends  of  his 
profession.  There  is  a  certain  point  of  perfection  in  e- 
very  business  of  life,  to  which,  every  man,  who  acts  in 
the  genuine  spirit  of  his  profession,  will  endeavour  to  at- 
tain. Though  the  faithful  minister  of  Christ  puts  no 
confidence  in  himself,  or  in  any  little  abilities  or  improve- 
ments of  his  own,  knowing  that  the  success  of  all  his  la- 
bours must  depend  on  God  ;  yet,  from  the  nature  of  his 
pj'ofession,  he  knows  it  is  his  duty  to  perform  the  part 
whic  h  is  assigned  him,  in  the  best  manner  he  can  ;  and, 
in  this  way,  to  rely  on  that  assistance  which  is  promised 
in  the  Gospel.  In  every  sacred  ministration  in  which 
the  teacher  of  religion  is  called  to  be  employed,  there  is, 
undoubtedly,  a  certain  method  of  performing  it,  which  is 
the  best,  and  most  conducive  to  the  end  for  w  hich  it  was 
designed.  In  every  religious  instruction  he  is  called  to 
give,  thore  is  a  certain  point  of  light  in  which  it  should 
be  placed,  in  order  to  do  justice  to  it,  and  to  convey  it, 
with  the  best  advantage,  to  the  view  and  apprehension  of 
his  people ;  as  there  must  be  a  certain  method  of  address- 
ing it,  by  which  it  is  the  most  likely  to  reach  their  hearts. 
There  is,  withal,  among  the  various  topics  of  religion 
suggested  in  the  Gospel,  a  certain  selection  to  be  made, 
from  time  to  time,  which  is  best  adapted  to  the  circum- 
stances of  the  people  to  whom  they  are  addressed  ;  and 
which,  in  their  particular  situation,  is  the  most  likely  to 
be  accompanied  with  suitable  effects.  The  judgment  and 
ability  of  doing  all  this,  is,  I  apprehend,  the  peculiar  art 
of  a  Minister's  profession  ;  and  a  principal  part  of  that 
wisdom,  of  which  the  scripture  speaks,  by  which  he 
v«  winneth  souls.'*  To  arrive  at  this  peculiar  wisdom 
and  ability,  the  faithful  Minister  of  Christ,  will  dedicate 
the  labour-  of  his  life  ;  and  exert  every  talent  God  has 
given  him,  to  the  utmost  of  his  pow  er.   To  this  he  will 


15 


feel  himself  obi  1(^6(1, — that  he  may  do  justice  to  the  cha- 
racter and  comraissiou  which  he  bears,  to  that  Divine 
Reli.^ion  which  he  preaches  to  the  world,  and  to  the  souls 
of  men  who  are  committed  to  his  care.  He  sees,  that  the 
ends  of  his  profession  are  of  infinite  importance  to  the 
happiness  of  men  ;  for,  tliey  are  no  less  than,    to  bring 
them  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Sa^ 
tan  unto  God,  that  they  may  receive  forgiveness  of  sin, 
and  an  inheritance  among  the  Saints,  by  the  faith  that 
is  in  Jesus  Christ.'^    The  feelings  of  humanity,  cher- 
ished by  tfie  sense  of  his  religion,  will  deeply  interest 
him  in  the  accomplishment  of  these  designs ;  and  it  would 
give  liim  a  singular  affliction  to  believe,  that  these  were 
obstructed  in  his  hands,  by  any  criminal  omission,  or 
misconduct  of  his  own.    Animated  by  the  same  great  i- 
dea  of  the  ends  of  his  profession,  he  will  reckon  it  his  du- 
ty, to  cultivate  ihe  faculties  which  God  has  given  him  ; 
and  to  be,  every  day,  adding  to  the  improvements  he  has 
made,  as  a  teacher  of  the  Gospel.    He  will  hate  a  life  of 
ignorance  and  sloth  ;  and  retreat,  as  much  as  he  decent- 
ly can,  from  that  insipid  waste  of  time,  in  the  frivolous 
conversation  and  amusements  of  the  world;,  which  are  a 
hindrance  to  every  valuable  improvement.    New  fields 
of  knowledge,  essential  to  the  sacred  character,  or  con- 
ducive to  its  usefulness  and  dignity,  will  be  ever  opening 
to  his  view.    Although  he  knows,  that  the  gracious  in- 
fluence of  God  alone,  can  reach  the  consciences,  or  change 
the  hearts  of  men,  yet  he  also  knows,  that  those  peculiar 
qualifications  which  belong  to  his  profession,  are  in  their 
nature,  fitted  to  accomplish  these  designs  ;  and  that  a 
Minister  is  most  likely  to  obtain  this  gracious  influence 
from  God,  when,  with  an  humble  dependence  on  it,  he  ex- 
erts and  cultivates  the  talents  God  has  given  him  to  the 
utmost  of  his  power :  relying,  therefore,  upon  God,  it  is, 
alike,  the  business  and  the  pleasure  of  his  life,  to  be  add- 
ing, every  day,  to  his  improvements.    The  exhortation 
which  the  Apostle  Paul  gives  to  Timothy,  he  takes  con- 
tinually to  himself:    Meditate  upon  these  things  ;  give 
«  thyself  wholly  to  them  ;  that  thy  profiting  may  appear  to 
aW.'*  He  will,  withal  perceive,  that,  to  answer  the  ends 
of  his  office,  an  equal  share  of  preparation  and  improve- 


menf  may  be  requisite,  in  every  situation  in  which  a 
Minister  is  placed,  and  in  preaehinj^,  even  to  the  lowest 
and  the  least  discernin.i^  part  of  mankind.  If  the  sole  end 
of  a  Minister's  profession  were,  merely  to  acquit  himself 
to  the  approbation  and  acceptance  of  dispeople,  to  grat- 
ify their  taste,  or  to  excite  some  temporary  emotions  in 
their  minds ; — to  all  this,  in  many  situations,  very  small 
improvements  might  suffice  : — nay,  sometimes  the  mean- 
est talents,  and  the  most  insipid  and  absurd  performances, 
are,  in  this  way,  able  to  procure  the  highest  popularity! 
But  it  is  a  very  different  thing,  to  persuade  our  people  to 
resist  their  sinful  passions,  and  amend  the  evil  of  their 
«  ways, — to  turn  them from  darkness  unto  light,  and  from 
«  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God.^^  Although  no  man,  of 
himself,  is  "  sufficient  for  these  things  yet,  it  is  allow- 
ed by  all,  that  there  are  certain  qualifications  and  im- 
provements belonging  to  the  office  ot  a  Minister,  by 
which  he  is  prepared  to  be  the  instrument  of  God  in  ac- 
complishing these  designs  :  and,  if  this  be  acknowledged, 
it  will,  perhaps,  be  found  to  be  a  consequence,  that^  in 
order  to  promote  them,  an  equal  share  of  these  qualifica- 
tions may  be  requisite,  in  addressing  the  hearts  of  men, 
in  every  rank  of  life; — for,  in  this  way,  it  will  be  found, 
that  their  hearts  are  equally  shut  against  the  efficacy  of 
the  Gospel ;  and,  with  equal  difficulty,  "  brought  into, 
subjection  and  captivity  to  Jesus  Christ.'*  The  conver- 
sion of  a  prince,  or  of  a  peasant,  from  their  peculiar  ha- 
bits of  iniquity,  are,  I  believe,  with  equal  dijQSculty,  to 
be  achieved. 

The  faithful  Minister  of  Jesus,  who,  in  the  manner  al- 
ready stated,  makes  full  proof  of  his  Ministry,  will  also 
be  prompted,  with  invariable  constancy  and  fortitude,  to 
declare  unto  his  people,  "  the  tvhole  counsel  of  God.**  He 
will,  faithfully,  and  fairly  set  before  them,  the  whole  ex- 
tent of  their  religious  and  moral  obligations,  with  all  that 
minuteness  and  detail,  with  which  they  are  delivered  in 
the  Sacred  Scriptures  ;  and  which,  he  sees,  the  circum- 
stances of  his  people  may  require.  No  aversion  which 
their  ignorance,  their  prejudice,  or  their  sinful  passions 
may  suggest  on  this  account ; — no  unpopular,  injurious 
epithets,  that  may  be  givea  him,  as  a  legal,  or  moral 


17 


preacher,  will  prevail  upon  him,  eitlier  to  conceal  or  to 
dis.^uisc,  any  part  of  that  Divine  Rclii^ioii,  upon  which, 
with  the  deepest  earnestness,  he  founds  the  prosjicct  ot' 
his  own  salvatiosj..  He  will,  with  all  the  diligence  and 
candour  of  vvhicli  he  is  capahle,  searcli  the  Holy  Bihle, — 
look  for  i;;cnuine  religion  there,  and,  from  thence,  rather 
tliau  from  any  iuunan  system  upon  earth,  learn  vvliat  ho 
is  to  teach,  as  a  Minister  of  Christ. 

Again  :  By  maintaining  such  a  walk  and  conversation 
as  is  implied  in  making  full  proof  of  his  ministry,  a  Min- 
ister of  the  Gospel  will  he  furnished  w  ith  a  peculiar  ta- 
lent of  instruction,  of  great  importance  to  tlie  success  of 
his  ministry,  of  which  he  cannot  otherwise  he  possessed. 
The  great  ohjects  of  religion,  which  the  Apostle  calls 

the  things  of  God,'^  cannot  he  perceived,  in  their  proper 
light,' — their  dignity,  importance,  and  extent,  cannot  he 
perceived,  but  by  him  who  is  upright  and  pure  in  heart. 
«•  The  natural  man  receives  them  not ; — neither  can  he 
*'«  know  them  ; — because  they  are  spiritually  discerned,'' 
Hence  it  is,  that  moral  and  religious  obligations,  a!id  the 
laws  of  christian  piety  and  virtue,  when  explained  in 
their  genuine  and  full  extent,  are  usually  regarded  by  the 
vicious  part  of  mankind  as  empty  fictions,  which  exist 
only  in  the  fancy  of  recluse  and  visionary  men  ;  and  all 
pretensions  to  that  piety  and  goodness  which  the  Gospel 
has  prescribed,  are  treated  by  them,  either  as  delusion 
or  hypocrisy.  To  this  it  was  ow  ing,  that  the  Pharisees, 
who  were  covetous,  derided  the  instructions  of  our  Sa- 
viour, in  which  he  enjoined  the  love  of  God,  and  the  con- 
tempt of  this  present  world.  As  the  sentiments  which  ho 
expressed  were  totally  above  the  comprehension  of  their 
covetous  and  selfish  minds ;  and  as  they  were  sentiments 
to  which  they  felt  nothing  correspondent  in  themselves  ; 
they  were  treated  by  them  as  ridiculous  and  fanciful.  To 
this  also  it  was  owing,  that  the  piety  and  purity  of  life 
which  the  Apostles  taught  the  Gentile  world,  and  sup- 
ported by  the  doctrine  of  a  crucified  Saviour,  was,  by 
the  Greeks,  at  that  time  the  most  enlightened  nation  up- 
on earth,  disdainfully  rejected,  as  absurdity  and  foolish- 
ness. The  Apostle  Paul  gives  this  account  of  it.  "  If 
the  Gospelf'^  said  he    be  hid,'' — if  its  wisdom,  its  im- 

3* 


18 


portance,  and  its  excellence  be  hid,  « it  is  hid  to  them, 
whose  minds  the  God  of  this  world  hath  blinded  — 
whose  moral  and  religions  sense  of  thin,^s,  has  been  dark- 
ened and  debased  by  the  impressions  of  this  world.  If 
this,  now,  be  a  just  representation  of  the  matter,  the  in- 
ference is  obvious,  that  a  teacher  of  reliejion,  who  has  no 
experience  of  its  purifying;  power  upon  himself,  is  not  in 
possession  of  that  peculiar  talent  of  instruction,  which  be- 
longs to  his  profession.  Relijajion  has  not  yet  appeared  to 
liim  in  that  lij^ht  in  which  it  is  perceived,  when  it  makes 
its  way  into  the  heart  of  man.    In  the  language  of  the 
Apostle,  God  hath  not  **  shined  into  his  heart,  to  give  him 
the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  his  Glory. Being  desti- 
tute of  this  peculiar  light,  when  he  attempts  to  represent 
the  things  of  God,^*  he  must  do  it  from  a  light  and 
knowledge  which  is  not  his  own  ;  like  a  man  who  never 
saw,  when,  by  the  force  of  imitation,  he  describes  the  vi- 
sible creation,  without  any  Just  ideas  of  the  things  which 
he  describes. .  If  religion  were  nothing  more  than  a  the- 
ory of  speculative  truth,  to  be  seated  in  the  heads  of  men, 
the  moral  and  religious  dispositions  of  its  teachers,  would 
n  ^t  be  of  so  much  consequence  :  but  the  religion  which  a 
Minister  of  Christ  is  called  to  teach,  is  a  practical  and 
moral  thing,  the  intention  of  which  is  to  purify  the  heart 
of  man  ;  and  therefore,  cannot  be  fully  understood  and 
taught,  but  by  what  the  Apostle  calls  the  spiritual  dis- 
cernment, or  by  that  light  of  understanding,  which  is  di- 
rected by  the  sentiments  of  a  devout  and  honest  heart. 
An  accurate  and  extensive  knowledge  of  the  evidence  and 
doctrines  of  religion,  and  a  regular  education,  in  various 
important  parts  of  human  learning,  are  indeed  most  de- 
sirable and  important  branches  of  ministerial  furniture  ; 
but  these  alone,  are  not  sufficient,  to  qualify  the  teacher 
of  religion.    In  the  fine  arts,  it  is  not  by  studied  rules,  or 
by  critical  remarks, — at  least,  it  is  not  by  these  alone, 
that  one  is  qualified  to  perceive  their  peculiar  excellence, 
or  to  feel  those  delicate  enjoyments,  they  are  fitted  to 
communicate.  To  the  knowledge  of  the  rules  of  art,  there 
must  be  joined  that  internal  sense  of  beauty,  which  is 
called  taste  ;  and  that  peculiar  sensibility  which  is  ori- 
ginally planted  by  the  author  of  our  nature,  and  is  eul- 


19 


tivated  by  acquaintance  with  the  best  examples  of  the 
kind.    Thus  too,  it  is,  in  the  holy  and  divine  art  of  life 
itself. 

To  all  this  we  may  add,  that  this  internal  preparation 
of  the  heart,  is  what  alone  will  enable  the  teacher  of  re- 
ligion, to  attain  that  natural,  simple,  and  persuasive  elo- 
quence, with  which  the  Gospel  should  be  taue^ht.  In  e- 
very  kind  of  composition  or  discourse,  genuine  and  real 
eloquence,  is  the  language  of  the  heart ; — or  the  natural 
expression  of  those  sentiments  and  feelings,  which  the 
subject  on  which  it  is  employed,  is  fitted  to  inspire ;  and, 
the  immediate  effect  of  it  is,  to  leave  the  minds  of  those, 
to  whom  it  is  addressed,  filled  with  that  same  idea  and 
im])ression,  which  the  author  had  conceived  and  felt  with- 
in himself.  Hence,  it  follows,  that  the  great  objects  of 
religion  must  be  previously  seen  and  felt  in  their  genuine 
dignity  and  moment,  e're  they  can  be  represented  with 
that  natural  and  simple  eloquence,  which  is  fitted  to  en- 
lighten and  affect  the  heai't.  In  this  natural  and  inter- 
esting manner,  was  the  christian  religion  first  revealed. 
In  the  Gospel,  as  it  lies  before  us,  in  the  discourses  of  our 
blessed  Lord,  we  meet  with  nothing  of  that  laboured  elo- 
quence, which  is  the  mark  of  human  art;  and  tends  rather 
to  excite  a  vain  applause  and  admiration  of  the  art  itself, 
than  a  serious  impression  of  the  things  themselves,  which 
it  is  designed  to  represent : — nor  do  we  find  here,  that  la . 
boured  artificial  arrangement,  of  speculative  truths,  in 
which  the  wisdom  and  philosophy  of  man  display  them- 
selves. Jesus  was,  in  this  respect,  a  singular  instructor  ; 
and  it  is  not  difficult  to  see  the  cause.  He  did  not  give  his 
Gospel  to  the  world,  as  a  curiously  investigated  theory, — • 
the  work  of  genius  and  art ; — but  as  a  doctrine  which  ho 
had  from  God  ;  and  which  proceeded  immediately  from 
the  dictates  of  that  grace  and  truth,  with  which  he  was 
inspired.  The  holy  laws  of  life  which  he  prescribed, — 
the  Heavenly  sentiments  of  wisdom  which  he  studied  to 
imprint  upon  the  hearts  of  men,  he  copied  from  the  vir- 
tues of  his  own  heart,  as  their  purest  and  most  beautiful 
originals.  On  this  account,  a  man  of  a  discerning  and 
unbiassed  mind,  will  be  able  to  perceive  a  consirlef-able  dif- 
ference between  the  gospel,  as  it  lies  before  as  in  its  nativo 


20 


and  original  simplicity,  andtliose  descriptions  of  it,  that 
are  given  in  those  laboured  and  artificial  forms,  into 
^vhicll  it  has  been  modelled  by  the  hand  of  man  : — a  dif- 
ferenre  not  very  unlike  that  which  is  to  be  found,  in  all 
the  other  works  of  God  and  man.  The  works  of  Gcd  arc 
solemn  and  majestic,-  and,  by  their  inexpressible  j^randcur 
and  simplicity,  enlarii^e  and  elevate  t!ie  heart :  the  works 
of  men,  though  modelled  by  the  nicest  art  and  skill,  are 
but  little  and  diminutive  ;  and,  how  much  soever  they 
may  amuse  the  fancy,  seldom  raise  any  great  or  elevating 
emotions  in  the  heart.  For  this  reason,  it  might  at  least 
deserve  inquiry,  if  it  would  not  better  serve  the  original 
intentions  of  the  Gospel,  to  represent  it  to  the  world,  as 
nearly  as  possible,  in  that  artless  and  divine  simplicity, 
in  which  it  was  delivered  by  its  blessed  and  divine  author, 
rather  than  as  a  laboured  theory  of  speculative  truths, 
curiously  distinguished  and  arranged,  according  to  the 
rules  of  human  art. 

But  there  is  one  other  light,  in  which  I  would  further 
set  before  you,  the  importance  of  maintaining  such  a  walk 
and  conversation  as  will  afford  s(  riptural  evidence,  that 
a  Minister  of  Christ  makes  full  proof  of  his  ministry ;  and 
that  is,  in  the  view  of  that  comfort  and  advantage,  which 
it  will  afford  himself  ,  The  happiness  of  every  situation, 
arises,  chiefly,  from  the  hopes  and  prospects  which  it  o- 
pens  to  the  minds  of  men.  It  is  a  constant  succession 
and  variety  of  these,  which  constitutes  the  charm  of  hu- 
man industry,  in  every  sphere  of  life.  But  that  Minister 
who  is  not,  himself,  governed  by  the  power  of  religion, 
must  be  totally  cut  off  from  this  fountain  of  enjoyment. 
The  duties  of  his  office  must  become  a  tedious  and  insipid 
round  of  insignifirant  employments,  to  which,  no  animat- 
ing ho])e  or  pn)spect  is  annexed,  especially  in  a  church, 
\vl;fTe  there  is  so  very  little,  to  favour  the  projects,  either 
of  ambition,  or  of  avarice.  To  this  w  e  may  add,  that,  in 
order  to  preserve  the  decorum  of  his  character,  he  must 
often  put  himself  to  a  painful  and  unnatural  restraint ; 
and  be  forced  to  a  severity  of  manners,  which  he  secretly 
contemns.  But,  he  who  is  disposed,  from  t<=e  piety  and 
goodness  of  his  heart,  to  do  the  duties  of  his  office,  will 
draw  from  them,  the  highest  satisfaction  and  dclighi. 


^1 


T!icy  are  immediately  suited  to  the  taste  and  temper  of 
his  mind  ;  ar.d  sii2;gest  the  most  interesting^  andenliven- 
r.ic;  prospect  upon  earth  ; — !io  less  tlian  that  of  beiii!^  a 
fellow  worker  with  Almighty  God,  and  the  blessed  Jesus, 
in  promotin.!:^  the  immortal  happiness  of  men.  Hence,  the 
A])()stle  Paul  expresses  so  much  ])Ieasure,  in  the  thouja^ht 
«  ■  executing'  the  commission  which  was  given  him. — 
••  ^Vom  of  these  things  more  me,  neither  count  liny  life 
dear  unto  myself  so  that  I  mi^ht  finish  ray  course  with 
joy,  and  the  ministry  tvhich  Iha-ce  received  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  to  tesify  the  Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God,^' 
1  miglit  further  observe,  that  t!ie  temper  and  character, 
whicii  in  this  discourse  I  haveendeavo  sred  to  describe  to 
you,  will  best  enable  a  Minivstcr  to  overcome  the  difficul- 
ties and  discoura,gements  he  may  meet  with,  in  the 
course  of  his  ministry,  or  to  bear  them  with  tranquility. 
Difticulties  and  discourai^ements,  of  various  kinds,  are 
scarcely  to  be  avoided,  in  the  oMce  of  the  ministry.  Li- 
centiousness and  iniideliiy  create  aversion  to  the  charac- 
ter of  a  faithful  minister  of  Christ;  and  dispose  the  vi- 
cious part  of  mankind,  to  depreciate  or  oppose  it.  Un- 
reasonable prejudices,  likewise,  may  arise a.i^ainst  amin- 
istcr  himself,  from  the  ignorance  and  folly  of  hispeojde. 
Nothin,:^,  however,  will  so  effectually  tend  to  sofcen  and 
remove  these  prejudices,  and  chan.e^e  aversion  into  friend- 
siiip  and  esteem,  as  that  faithful,  upright  ciiaracter, 
which  I  have  endeavoured  to  describe  to  you  : — Or,  if 
this  cannot  be  done,  as  possibly  may  be  the  case,  with 
some  persons  of  a  dark,  sullen,  and  suspicious  nature,  or 
of  ahaughty  unrelenting^  heart,  yet,  in  spite  of  every  pre- 
judice, a  noble  tranquility  will  be  enjoyed  by  the  faithful 
minister  of  Christ.    The  approbation  of  his  own  heart, 
a  sense  of  merited  esteem,  and  confidence  in  the  master 
whom  he  serves,  will  disarm  the  power  of  ignorance,  of 
prejudice,  and  of  enmity,  and  give  him  an  enjoyment  of 
himself,  which  they  Vv ill  not  be  ahle  to  disturb.  With 
the  Apostle  Paul,  this  is  his  rejoicing,  "  the  testimony  of 
,     his  conscience,  that ^  in  simplicity  and  godly  smcenty,  not 
i    with  fleshly  wisdom,  hut  by  the  grace  of  God^hehas  his 
I     conversation  in  the  VJorldJ^ 

^    I  might  here  add,  that  t!ie  preparation  of  the  heart  ou 


22 


which  I  have  already  insisted,  is  what  alone  will  enabl 
the  Minister  of  Christ,  to  maintain  a  steadiness  and  uni 
formity  of  conduct,  in  every  circumstance  of  life.  Yes 
Brethren  :  the  sincere  and  faithful  minister  of  Chi'ist, 
aided  by  the  master  whom  he  serves,  will  feel  an  inde 
pendency  and  strens^th  of  mind,  and  a  security  and  com 
fort  from  himself,  that  will  render  him  superior  to  every 
temptation,  with  which  the  world  can  assail  him.  Guid- 
ed  by  the  dictates  of  an  honest  heart,  he  is  uniform 
throughout,  and  consistent  with  himself,  in  every  part  of 
life.  While  he  gives  no  just  occasion  of  complaint,  he 
nevertheless,  in  doing  what  his  conscience  or  his  Judg- 
ment prescribes,  is  indifferent  about  the  ignorant  and 
uncharitable  censures  of  the  world  ;  knowing,  that,  if  he 
sought  to  please  men,  at  the  expense  of  his  integrity, 

h  could  not  be  a  servant  of  Jesus  Christ.'*  j 

But  the  highest,  and  most  peculiar  happiness  and  sa-J^ 
tisfaction,  which  the  sincere  and  faithful  minister  o£^; 
Christ  must  feel,  in  the  duties  of  his  ministry,  arisesj 
fj'om  the  prospect  of  that  glorious  reward,  which  thef 
master  whom  he  serves,  has  promised  to  bestow  upon  hij^ 
faithful  servants  :  for,  he  knows,  that,  "  when  the  chief 

Shepherd  shall  appear^  he  shall  receive  a  crown  of  glory, 
thaf  fadeth  not  away, ^' 

To  conclude : — Tlicre  is  a  special  circumstance  attend- 
ing the  profession  of  a  minister,  which  adds  greatly  to 
the  weight  of  his  peculiar  obligations  ;  to-wit,  that  the 
same  qualifications  which  fit  him  for  the  duties  of  his  of- 
jice,  will  add  to  the  goodness  of  his  private  character; 
an<l  fit  him  for  being  a  better  and  a  worthier  man  in  eve- 
ry circumstance  of  life.  In  a  different  situation,  a  man 
may  be  distinguished  in  the  sphere  of  his  profession,  while 
his  character,  in  other  circumstances  of  life,  is  but  in- 
different :  but,  in  order  to  be  eminent  and  useful  in  the 
sacred  character,  a  man  must  be  eminently  wise  and  vir- 
tuous, in  every  instance  of  his  conduct :  and,  by  the  same 
means  by  which  he  studies  to  promote  the  everlasting  in-  ] 
terests  of  other  men,  he  most  effectually  secures  his  own. 
Hence,  that  important  admonition,  which  the  Apostle 
Paul  gives  to  Timothy  ; — "  Take  heed  unto  thyself  and 

to  thy  doctrine  ;  coiitinue  in  them  ;  for^  in  doing  this, 
^*  thou  shalt  both  save  thyself  and  them  that  hear  tlm*^\ 


THE 
TO  THE 


Reverend^  and  Dear  Brother, 

With  great  propriety,  on  the  present  occasion,  you 
may  be  addressed  in  the  lan.guage,  in  which  the  Alniijch- 
ty  once  spake  to  his  servant,  Moses  :  Put  off  thtj  s/ioes 
*•  from  off  thy  feet ;  for  the  place  whereon  thou  standest, 
*<is  HOLY  GROUND."  Yes  ;  my  brother  :  You  do  indeed 
stand  on  "  holy  groundJ*^  The  office,  into  which  you  are 
inducted,  is  ati  holy  office :  The  master,  to  whom  you 
have  sworn  allegiance,  is  a  holy  master :  The  Gospel, 
which  you  are  called  to  preach,  is  a  holy  Gospel  :  The 
life,  which  you  are  required  to  recommend  to  others,  is  a 
holy  life  :  The  example,  you  are  required  to  exhibit,  is  a 
holy  example  :  The  ordinances,  you  are  to  administer, 
are  holy  ordinances  :  In  short,  all  the  duties,  you  are 
called  to  discharge,  are  holy  duties.  Of  these  truths,  I 
trust  you  are  deepU  sensible  ;  nor  can  you  be  othei'wise 
than  feelingly  alive  to  the  natural  and  obvious  inference 
to  be  drawn  from  them  ;  namely,  that  an  office,  thus  hO" 
ly,  cannot  be  rightly  exercised,  but  by  those  who  possess 
holy  qualifications. 

What  an  awfully  responsible  office,is  that  of  an  Am- 
bassador FOR  Christ!  What  prudence,  what  knowledge, 
what  piety,  what  prayer,  what  self-denial,  what  Heavenly 
mindedness,  what  Heavenly  conversation,  what  holiness  of 
life,  what  meekness,  and  lowliness  of  mind,  what  zeal  and 
diligence,  what  intense  love  to  his  peojile,  what  sympathy 
and  sensibility  of  soul,  what  fidelity,  what  solicitude  a- 
bout  the  success  of  his  labours,  what  attention  to  the  va- 


rious  daily  (n;iier>  Pif  his  function,  and  totiiose  which  api 
pertain  to  domestic  devotion,  should  mark  tiiat  man's  cha- 
racter, who  enters  into  this  sacred  office  !    When  you 
take  this  view  of  your  situation,  are  you  not  constrained 
to  exclaim,  with  the  great  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles,  "  Who 
**  is  sufficient  f 07'  these  thm^s        Yes  ;  ray  dear  brother: 
if  the  Apostle  Paul,  v.  hose  gifts  and  graces  were  so  em- 
inent,— who  was  caught  up  to  tlie  third  Heaven, — who 
heard  tlie  voice  of  God,  and  saw  tlie  vision  of  the  Al- 
miii^hty, — who  performed  so  many  signs,  and  wonders, 
and  mighty  deeds, — who  was  not  a  whit  behind  the  high- 
est of  the  Apostles,—  who  was  honoured  as  the  instru- 
ment of  planting  so  many  churches,  and  of  converting  so 
many  souls: — if  he  felt  such  a  deep  sense  of  his  own  in- 
sufficiency, on  the  contemplation  of  the  greatness  of  the 
work  to  which  he  was  called, — well  may  I, — well  may 
you, — well  may  my  Reverend  Fathers  and  Brethren  now 
present ; — yea,  well  may  all  those  who  have  undertaken, 
the  great  work  of  the  Gosj)el  Ministry,  reiterate  the  ex 
clamation,  <*  TVho  is  sufficient  for  these  things?^^ — But,  our 
grand  consolation  is, — a  consolation,  in  which,  I  trust, 
you  will  experience  an  enlarged  share, — that  our  suffi- 
ciency is  of  God,    Tliis  consolation  supported  the  Minis- 
tering servants  of  Christ,  in  all  ages  of  his  church  ;  and 
you  too,  my  brother,  may  place  on  this,  the  utmost  re- 
liance; for,<*Lo  /"  said  our  Divine  Master,  '*Iam  with  you 
<«  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  worldJ'  Let  this,  then, 
be  your  encouragement,  to  persevere  in  the  various  du- 
ties of  your  arduous  calling.    Let  it  serve  to  excite  your 
diligence,  to  awaken  your  seal,  to  strengthen  your  gra- 
ces, and  to  animate  your  devotion.    I  am  very  sensible, 
that  no  minister  of  the  Gospel  stands  more  in  need  of  ad- 
monition and  exhortation, — that  no  one  stands  more  in 
need  of  being  stirred  up  and  aroused  to  the  lively  excr 
cise  of  those  graces  and  virtues  which  are  essential  to  the 
sacred  office,  than  I  do  myself  : — and,  therefore,  whilst 
yielding  to  the  injunction  of  my  Reverend  Fatheis  anc 
Brethren,  who  have  assigned  me  the  duty  I  am  now  en- 
deavouring to  discharge, — whilst,  conscious  that  it  is  our 
united  duty,  to     admonish  one  another,''  and     to  pro- 
voke  unto  love  and  to  goodworks^''  I  remind  ^^oMof  the 


25 


sacreelnssf?  of  your  office,  the  awful  responsibility  attach- 
ed to  it,  the  indisjieusible  riecc.vsity  of  uiires Tvetl  ridelity 
and  unwearied  dili.^ence  iu  every  part  f)f  your  duty, — 
and  the  awful  consequences  of  Oein.:^  faitiilcss,  ne.i^li.ejent, 
or  unconcerned  ; — whilst  I  endeavour  to  s;\\eyo2i  a  live- 
ly rej)resentation  of  these  thinj^s,  I  would,  at  the  same 
time,  most  earnestly  desire,  that  tiieir  weii^ht,  their  im- 
portance, and  their  solemnity,  mi^ht  be  suitably  ijnpress- 
ed  (m  my  ownhearc.  Suffei*,  then,  my  deai*  Brother,  the 
word  of  exhortation  ; — that,  havinj^  your  own  mind  deep- 
ly impressed  witli  Divine  thin.i^s,  you  may,  with  the  more 
autbority,  and  consequently,  with  the  e^reater  zeal  and 
earnestness,  exhort  otliers  to  holiness  of  life. 

Li't  Christ  Jesus,  and  him  crucified,  be  the  main  foun- 
dation, t!ie  sum  and  substance  of  all  your  preaching*.  Like 
Paul,  be  determined,  to  know  nothin,i^  amon,i>  those  to 
wbom  you  minister;  but  Christ  Jesus,  and  him  crucified. 
Remember,  that  he  is  "  the  end  of  the  taw  for  righteous^ 
ness^  to  every  one  that  betievethJ'  By  leaving  him  out  of 
your  discourses,  yon  may,  indeed,  gain  tbe  applause  of 
the  men  of  the  world  : — you  may  acquire  the  reputation 
of  being  an  eloquent  man,  among  those  who  practically 
say,  of  the  Redeemer  of  Israel,     TVe  will  not  have  this 

man  to  rei^n  over  us  but,  those  who  are  hungering 
after  the  bread,  and  thirsting  after  the  waters  of  life,  you 
will  send  empty  away  :  To  them,  any  instruction  which 
speaks  not  of  him,  who  is  "  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the 

life,''  will  be  empty,  insipid,  and  unsatisfactory.—. 
"  Christ  crucified,''  is  indeed     to  the  Jews  a  stumbling- 

block,  and  to  the  Greeks  foolishness  but,  to  <^  those 
<^  who  are  called,  he  is  the  wisdom  of  God,  and  the  power 

of  God  to  salvation." 

Be  faithful,  in  declaring  the  whole  counsel  of  God.— • 
Keep  nothing  back.    Let  it  be  to  you  "  a  small  thing,  to 

be  judged  of  man's  judgment."  Beware  of  being  influ- 
enced by  the  fear  of  man  ;  but,  with  undaunted  firmness^ 
plead  boldly,  the  cause  of  your  redeemer  :  And,  let  me 
beseech  you,  never  loose  siglit  of  tliis  solemn  truth  ; — 
that  the  Gospel  you  preach,  will  be,  both  to  yourself,  and 
to  ill  those  who  hear  you,  "  either  a  savour  of  life  unto 

lifCf  or  a  savour  of  death  unto  death," 
4# 


26 


Read  much  ;^study  much ; — pray  frequently,  fervent* 
ly,  and  importunately  ;  and  make  it  tlie  sole  business  of 
your  Wf^  to  promote  God's  glory,  in  the  salvation  of  sin- 
ners. Cultivate,  with  prayerful  care,  that  temper  of  mind, 
which  will  irresistably  incline  you  to  say,  with  the  in- 
spired Apostle,  <*  Brethren,  my  hearths  desire  and  prayer 
«  to  God  for  Israel  is,  that  they  may  be  savedJ^ 

Although  we  all  believe,  and  are  fully  persuaded,  that 
you  have  not  deliberately  resolved  to  enter  upon  the  sa- 
cred office,  without  sitting  down,  and  counting  the  costj 
yet,  on  this  occasion,  it  w^ould  betray  a  want  of  fidelity, 
truly  reprehensible,  not  to  forewarn  you,  that,  in  the  exer- 
cise of  the  various  duties,  to  which,  in  the  course  of  your 
ministry,  you  will  be  called,  if  you  are  faithful  to  your 
trust,  you  may  expect  to  meet  with  many  difficulties,  tri- 
als, and  afflictions  ;  and  even  to  encounter  much  opposi- 
tion and  ])ersecution.  To  meet  these,  with  that  resolute 
firmness  whicli  becomes  a  Minister  of  Christ,  your  faith 
must  be  strong  ;  and  your  reliance  unshaken  on  that 
master,  in  whose  service  you  are  engaged,  who  has  pro- 
mised, that,  **  as  thy  day,  so  shall  thy  strength  and 
who  has  graciously  said,  ^*  My  grace  is  siiffident  for  thee  ; 

for  my  strength  is  made  perfect  in  thy  weakness : — I  will 
«  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee.'* 

As  a  high  sense  of  the  sacredness  of  your  office,  will 
excite  your  diligence  in  improving  your  own  Ministerial 
qualifications;  so,  when  God,  in  his  Providence,  calls 
you  to  act  in  his  judicatory,  to  judge  of  the  propriety  of 
entrusting  to  others,  "  the  keys  of  the  Kingdom  of  Hea- 

Te?i,"  it  will  be  necessary  lor  you  to  exercise  much 
cai^e  and  caution,  lest  any  novice, — any  unskilful  or  un- 
qualified person,  should  intrude  himself  into  the  sacred 
office.  Inattention  to  this  duty,  in  the  Judicatories  of 
Christ's  Chui-ch,  will  not  fail  to  be  productive  of  conse- 
'  quences  the  most  ruinous  to  the  interests  of  Zion.  Lay 
^*  hands  suddenly  on  no  man,*'  is  an  Apostolic  injunction 
on  this  subject,  which  ought  never  to  be  lost  sight  of,  by 
a  faithful  Ministry. 

In  the  discharge  of  every  duty,  whether  of  a  public  or 
private  nature,  keep  your  mind  fixed  on  the  General 
Judgment.   Of  that  awful  period,  never  lose  sight :  so 


27 


shall  you  be  the  better  prepared  to  give  up  yeur  account 
with  joy,  when  he  who  has  put  you  into  the  ministry,  will 
call  you  to  give  an  account  of  your  stewardship. 

But,  as  the  hints  contained  in  the  discourse  you  have 
just  heard,  must  be  fresh  inyourrecoUection,  it  is  not  ne- 
cessary to  multiply  advices.    For  further  instruction,  I 
must  refer  you  to  the  word  of  God,  which,  I  trust,  will 
be  your  constant  companion  ;  and  especially  to  those  ex- 
cellent Epistles  of  the  Apostle  Paul  to  Timothy  and  Ti- 
tus, which  you  cannot  too  frequently  read  ;  and  to  a  few 
passages  from  which,  I  will  call  your  attention,  e're  1  close 
this  address.       For  therefore^^  said  the  inspired  Apostle, 
^*  we  both  labour  and  suffer  reproach,  because  we  trust  in 
«  the  livins;  God,  who  is  the  Saviour  of  all  men,  specially 
of  those  that  believe.  Let  no  man  despise  thy  youth  ;  but 
be  thou  an  example  of  the  believers,  in  word,  in  conver* 
sation,  in  charity^  in  spirit,  in  faith,  in  purity.  Give 
attendance  to  reading,  to  exhortation,  to  doctrine.  Take 
heed  ^mto  thyself  and  unto  thy  doctrine;  continue  in  them: 
for  in  doing  this,  thou  shall  both  save  thyself,  and  them 
that  hear  thee.  I  charge  thee  before  God,  and  the  Lord  Je* 
svs  Christ,  and  the  elect  angels,  that  thou  observe  these 
**  things,  witJwut  prefemng  one  before  another^  doing  nO" 
^'  thing  by  partiality.    Lay  hands  suddenly  on  no  man, 
*'  neither  be  partaker  of  other  men^s  sins :  keep  thyself pyA-e*, 
For  the  love  of  money  is  the  root  of  all  evil  :  which, 
while  some  coveted  after,  they  have  erred  from  thefaith, 
"  and  pierced  themselves  through  with  many  sorrows.  But 
thou,  0  man  of  God,  flee  these  things  ;  and  follow  after 
righteousness,  godliness,  faith,  love,  patience,  meekness. 
Fight  the  good  fight  of  faith,  lay  hold  on  eternal  life, 
whereunto  thou  art  also  called,  and  hast  professed  a, 
good  profession  before  many  witnesses.   I  give  thee 
charge  in  the  sight  of  God,  who  quickeneth  all  things, 
and  before  Christ  Jesus,  who  be fore  Pontius  Pilate  wit' 
^«  nesseda  good  confessim  ;  that  thm  keep  this  command' 
**  ment,  without  spot,  unrebukeable,  until  the  appearing  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.    Study  to  shew  thyself  approro* 
**  ed  unto  God,  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed, 
rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth.    Bnt  shun  profane 
*J  and  vain  babblings  /  for  thetj  will  increase  mto  mors 


£8 


ungodliness,    Jind  the  servant  of  the  Lord  imist  not 
strive  ;  but  be  gentle  unto  all  men,  apt  to  teach, patient, 
<*  in  meekness  instructing  those  thatojypose  themselves  ;  ij 
(^od  veradventnre  will  give  them  repentance  to  the  oc- 
"  knowledging  of  the  truth;  and  that  they  may  recover  them- 
"  selves  out  of  the  snare  of  the  Devil ,  who  are  taken  captive 
by  Mm  at  his  will.    I  charge  thee,  therefore^  before  God, 
"  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  shall  judge  t'-.e  quick  and 
"  the  dead  at  his  appearing  and    his  kingdom  ;  Preach 
"  the  word ;  be  instant  in  season  and  out  of  season  ;  reprove, 
rebuke,  exhort,  with  all  long-suffering  and  doctrine.-—' 
"  Watch  thou  in  all  things,  endure  afflictions,  do  the  work 
of  an  evangelist,  make  full  proof  of  thy  Ministry.  Speak 
thou  the  things  which  become  sound  doctrine  :  in  all  things 
shewing  thyself  a  pattern  of  good  works  :  in  doctrine, 
**  shewing  uncorruptness,  gravity,  sincerity,  sound  speech, 
"  that  cannot  be  condemned  ;  that  he  that  is  of  the  contrary 
"  part  may  be  ashamed,  having  no  evil  thing  to  say  of  you. 
Let  no  man  despise  thee.^^ 

And  now,  my  dear  Brother,  with  these  Apostolic  pre- 
cepts, I  dismiss  you  ;  "  commending  you  to  God,  and  to 

the  word  of  his  grace,  which  is  able  to  build  you  up,  and 
"  to  irive  you  an  inheritance  among  all  them  that  are  sancti^ 


THE 


TO  THE 


To  the  people  of  tliis  coll^?^e^ation,  T  am  now  to  offer  a 
few  hints,  suggested  by  a  review  ot  this  tUiy's  solemni- 
ties. 

My  Dear  Brethren  ^ 

You  have  heard  the  rhar2:e,  wfiich  has  just  heen 
given  to  your  ministoi'  ;  and,  1  trust,  many  of  you  are 
suitably  impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  importance  of  that 
relation,  which,  on  this  day,  has  taken  place,  between 
you  and  him.  That  his  duties  are  sacred  and  important; 
and  involving,  both  to  you  and  to  him,  eternal  conse- 
quences, you  will  all  be  ready  to  acknowledge.  But,  it 
is  necessary  to  remind  you,  that,  of  you  also,  tliere  are 
duties  required  ; — duties  which  are  strongly  binding  on 
you  ;  and,  the  faithful  discharge  of  which,  are  necessary 
to  the  success  of  his  labours,  and  to  tlie  efficacy  of  his 
ministry.  The  more  solemn  and  important  the  duties  of 
a  Gospel  Minister  are,  the  more  needful  it  is,  tliat  he 
should  meet  with  suitable  encouragement ;  and  that  his 
hands  should  be  held  up  and  supported,  by  the  people  to 
whom  he  ministers,  in  holy  things. 

To  this  end,  it  is  absolutely  essential,  that  in  the  fi/st 
place,  you  give  a  regular  and  constant  attcnchmce,  to  liis 
public  instructions.  When  the  house  of  God  is  deserted; 
when  his  public  worship  is  neglected,  and  his  ordinances 
treated  with  contempt,  God's  gracious  design,  in  sending 
his  only  begotten  son  into  this  world,  to  save  lost  sin- 
ners ^  and  in  instituting  a  Gospel  Ministry,  for  tlie  pui'- 


so 


pose  of  publishin]^  the  glad  tilings  of  salvation,  is  impU 
ously  defeated.  Let  not,  the'n,  this  aggr  avated  sin  lie  at 
your  door.  Do  not,  thus,  trample  under  foot,  the  son  of 
God,  or  put  him  to  an  open  shame.  Do  not,  thus,  prac* 
tically  say,  that  you  have  neither  part  nor  lot  in  the  great 
Q  ilvation,  which  the  blessed  Immanuel  purchased  with  his 
precious  blood  ;  but.  on  the  contrary,  exhibit  to  the  world, 
a  convincing  proof  of  your  gratitude  to  the  gi^at  head  of 
the  church,  for  instituting  the  ir  inistry  of  reconciliation, 
and  sending  his  servant,  to  beseech  you  in  his  steady  to 
<»  be  reconciled  to  God  — for  tliis  signal  manifestation  of 
his  loving  kindness,  do  you,  my  brethren,  testify  jour 
gratitude,  by  a  constant,  faithful,  and  devout  attendance, 
on  the  preached  word ;  and  on  all  the  Ordinances  of  God's 
Louse. 

But,  in  order  to  hold  up  your  Minister's  hands,  and 
to  afford  hira  suitable  encouragement  in  his  labour  of 
love,  it  is  not  only  necessary,  that  you  should  give  his 
public  ministrations  a  regular  personal  attendance ;  but, 
that  yo;i  should  also,  listen  with  attention,  to  the  truths 
he  delivers  ;  feel  your  own  deep  interest  in  them  ;  and 
faithfully  apply  them  to  your  respective  cases  and  cir- 
cumsftances.  Remember,  that  the  Gospel  he  preaches,  is 
not  designed  for  your  entertainment  or  amusement ;  but 
to  ])romotethe  Glory  of  God,  who  will,  most  assuredly, 
be  magnified  in  those  that  perish,  as  well  ps  admired  in 
those  that  are  saved  ;  and  that,  if  you  fail  to  improve  the 
instructions  of  the  Gospel,  those  very  instructions  wili 
rise  up  in  judgment  against  you,  and  condemn  you.  Ei- 
ther everlasting  salvation,  or  eternal  condemnation,  will 
be  the  sure  consequence  of  your  having  heard  the  messa- 
ges of  the  Gospel  ;  and  should  you  finally  be  found  to  be 
unprofitable  liearers  of  the  word,  it  will  gi^eatly  add  to 
your  condemnation,  "  that  light  is  come  into  the  world, 
and  that  you  loved  darkness  rather  than  lights  beaiuse 
ijour  deeds  were  evil.**  I  beseech  you,  then.  Brethren, 
lay  this  deeply  to  heart.  Do  not  subject  your  Minister 
to  the  painful  apprehension,  of  seeing  any  of  you,  at  the 
left  hand  of  the  judge  of  all  the  earth,  at  the  last  day.  Do 
not,  thus,  requite  his  labours  of  love  among  you  ; — but  so 
improve  the  Gospel  message  which  you  receive  from  liioj^ 


31 


that  ye  may  all  be  happy  seals  to  his  Ministry  ;  and  prove 
Lis  crown  of  rejoicin.^  in  tlie  day  of  the  Lord. 

It  is  further  necessary,  that  your  conduct  towards  your 
Minister  should  be  such,  as  to  encoura,^e  him,  to  deal 
fairly  and  impartially  with  you,  in  declarin.^  unto  you, 
the  whole  counsel  of  God.  Witliout  this,  even  did  he  dis- 
play the  learnin,^  of  a  Paul,  or  the  elofjuence  of  an  Apol- 
los,  his  preaching  will  be  wholly  useless  to  you.  Let  no 
consideration  whatever,  tempt  you  to  reject  the  truth, 
how  much  soever,  it  may  condemn  your  life,  or  i*eprove 
your  conduct.  Beware  of  fallina^  into  the  error  into 
which  some  of  the  Galatian  Christians  once  f(  II,  when 
they  esteemed  the  Apostle  Paul  their  enemy,  because  ho 
told  them  tiie  truth  ;  but  rather  esteem  your  minister  as 
your  truest  friend,  when  he  faithfully  warns  you  of  your 
danger.  Should  you  hear  him  utter  truths  harsh  to  fas- 
tidious ears,  or  offensive  to  licentious  prejudices,  let  this 
ei^ite  your  gratitude  rather  than  your  resentment ;  and, 
if  you  regard  your  own  vital  and  essential  interests,  you 
will  make  a  serious  application  of  them  to  yourselves  : 
but,  as  for  your  minister  who  delivers  them,  b^very  care^ 
ful,  that  you  neither  discourage  nor  deter  him  fr^Mn  the 
faithful  discharge  of  his  duty  ;  for,  he  has,  this  day,  so- 
lemnly engaged,  that,  whether  men  will  hear,  or  whether 
they  will  forbear,  he,  for  his  part,  will  not  fail  to  de- 
clare, the  whole  counsel  of  God. 

It  likewise  demands  your  consideration,  that  the  Min- 
isters of  the  Gospel  are  men  of  like  passions  with  your- 
selves ;  and  therefore  liable  to  those  infirmities,  vhich 
necessarily  proceed  from  the  indwelling  corruption  of 
the  human  heart.  Be  candid,  therefore,  towards  your 
Minister  ;  and  expect  not  from  him,  absolute  perfection. 
This,  indeed,  is  not,  even  by  the  very  best  among  us,  at- 
tainable in  this  life  ;  but,  as  your  Minister  is  a  yoiing 
man,  and  just  entering  upon  his  arduous  duties  ; — it  is 
your  duty  to  make  allowances  for  many  short-comings 
in  him,  which  must  necessarily  flow  from  inexperience  ; 
and  which  more  advanced  years  in  the  exercise  of  the 
ministry,  should  the  Lord  prolong  his  days,  may  enable 
him  to  surmount.  Mistake  me  not  here,  Brethren  :  I  do 
not  say  this,  with  a  view  to  extenuate  any  material  er- 


ror  in  point  of  conduct,  ov  to  excuse  any  essential  failure, 
ill  point  of  duty,  in  your  Pastor.  (h\  this  subject,  t 
humbly  triistj  you  will  have  no  cause  to  complain.  But, 
bcirii^  yj)an/5  in  ^hfe  Ministry  myself,  I  know,  from  expe- 
rience, that  a  youthful  ministry  stands  in  need  of  much 
tcirJcj'ness,  and  forbearance. 

To  these  hints,  1  shall  only  add,  what,  I  trust,  yotfr 
own  hearts  have  previously  suf^gested.  Let  your  impor- 
tunate supplications  frecpiently  ascend  to  the  throne  of 
g-  ace,  on  behalf  of  your  Minister,  that  his  labours  of  love 
amoni^  you  may  be  abundantly  successful.  Remember, 
that,  althougii  a  learned  Paul  may  plant,  and  an  eloquent 
Apollos  may  water,  it  is  Cod  only  that  g-iveth  the  in- 
crease. To  that  God,  then,  do  you  look,  for  a  blessing 
"j'o.i  the  labours  oi  your  Minister.  To  him,  freqiiently 
^VV^y  ;  pleadin.s^  the  atojiine;  merits  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ;  and,  casting  yourselves,  unreservedly,  on  his 
sovereign  mercy.  May  he  take  you  into  his  holy  keeping. 
May  he  make  you  all,  subjects  of  his  grace,  and  heirs  of 
JjIs  ev. blasting  kin.^dom  And  his  shall  be  all  the  glory. 
Loth  now  and  evermore.  Jimen. 


